SHIKSHAN VIKAS MANDAL’S

SHRI S H KELKAR COLLEGE OF ARTS, COMMERCE AND SCIENCE

VISION 2024

(A Roadmap to perfection)

The vision document elicits the parameters to be focused upon and draws a roadmap that would lead us to the way where the Institute should stand out in the year 2024. Each institute has its own strengths and weaknesses; strengths to be explored to yield the maximum and weaknesses to be countered with and transformed to strengths.  Eventually, an institution shall emerge as the educational hub, a centre of excellence and recognized as a symbol of pride for the region so as to attract the students from far and wide and fulfill the people’s aspiration!

VISION:

“To provide wide range of academic programmes and develop  state of art matching infrastructure to sustain, enhance the quality and excellence in academic delivery, commensurate with the goals and objectives of the Institution, that imbibes the regional, national aspirations compatible with global capabilities”

The guiding principle: The quality and relevance of the educational institution is based on, among others, the satisfaction of its students and parents! An institution shall constantly strive to work for the satisfaction of its students and parents that will, as a result, create for itself a place of pride in the public domain. This shall be the driving philosophy for an institution to frame policies, progress, develop and expand.

Based on the feedback from the stakeholders viz. students, ex-students, parents; the views, versions and the deliberations at the academic, governing bodies; inputs through social interaction; and with due conscience with the local, regional, national and global needs; with due cognizance of the changes in higher education arena, a draft of the master plan is formulated so as also to ensure planned and systematic growth, expansion, development and the overall progression of the institution, thus, thereby providing a ‘Roadmap’ for its onward march for a decade-long period: 2014-2024. The plan is to be essentially aimed at fulfilling the social obligations and people’s aspirations; and to realize the goals and objectives of the Institution. The goals and objectives also need to be revisited to accommodate the enormous changes that are taking place across the globe.

This master plan is comprised of two parts viz. Academic expansion and Infra-structural development to match the academic expansion.

Part A: Academic Expansion

The academic programmes, the courses of studies be introduced in a phased manner; taking into account inter se preference based on local, regional, national, global needs, the job potential/job market, potential to generate self employment etc.

The following paragraph from the UGC notification spells out the directives as to how the academic programmes need to be introduced.

“With a view to make the skill acquired by the learners acceptable nationally, the curricula and system of certification has to be done as per the national standards. In order to facilitate offering of nationally standardized skill related programmes, the Government of India (Ministry of Human Resource Development) has already notified the National Vocational Education Qualifications Framework (NVEQF) on 3rd September 2012 (F.No. 1-4/2011- VE). It is a nationally integrated education and competency-based skill framework which provides for multiple pathways, both within vocational education and between general and vocational education, to link one level of learning to another higher level and enable learners to progress to higher levels from any starting point in the education and / or skill system. It permits individuals to accumulate their knowledge and skills and convert them, through testing and certification by the competent authorities, into higher level of certification which could be a certificate or diploma or advanced diploma or PG diploma or a degree in common parlance. Government of India is in the process of finalizing National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) which will replace NVEQF”.

In view of the paradigm shift at the national policy framework- which invariably sets the agenda for the Institute- the following academic programmes may have to be introduced in a phased manner. While choosing the progammes, an emphasis is laid on the emerging fields like IT, Bio-technology, Genetic engineering, Management and market demand.

a.                 Programmes to be introduced at post graduation level:

Under the faculty of science:

1.                 Master of Science in Computer Science

2.                 Master of Science in Information Technology

Under Biological Sciences:

1.                 Master of Science in Micro-Biology

2.                 Master of Science in Bio-Technology

3.                 Master of Science in Bio-chemistry (By research)

4.                 Master of Science in Bio-analytical science

Under the faculty of Commerce and Management:

1.                 Master of Management Studies

2.                 Master of financial management

Under the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

1.                 Master of Mass Media

2.                 Master of Geography/Geological Sciences

3.                 Master of Arts: Communication and journalism

4.                 Post graduate diploma course in Remote sensing technology and

geographic information systems

b.                Programmes to be introduced at under graduate level:

Under the faculty of Science:

1.                 Bachelor of Information technology

2.                 Bachelor of Science in Mathematics

3.                 Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology

4.                 Bachelor of Science in Microbiology

Under the faculty of Commerce:

1.                 Bachelor of Commerce in Banking and Insurance

2.                 Bachelor of commerce in Accounting and finance

Under Humanities and Social Science

1. Bachelor of Mass Media (B.M.M)

Rational behind the introduction of UG/PG programmes is: Each undergraduate department should be developed into a post-graduate centre; and each post-graduate department should be in turn developed into a recognized research centre.

c.                   Under Add-on/COP/Innovative category

(Certificate, diploma, advanced diploma)

In order to enhance the career prospects, self employment, professional skills commensurate with the national skills development policy and employability in general, the courses based on the following disciplines be introduced.

1.                 Horticulture

2.                 Functional English

3.                 Hardware maintenance

4.                 E-Commerce

5.                 Floriculture, Sericulture

6.                 Agricultural Analytical Chemistry (Innovative programmes)

7.                 Remote sensing

d.                 Other Courses  

1.                 Courses on Food processing, Electronic appliances,

2.                 Courses offered by Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation

(MKCL)  Viz. MS-CIT, Waves etc.

3.                 Courses offered by YCMOU, IGNOU (Distance learning) on

Journalism, Computer networking, Hardware maintenance etc so as to

facilitate access for those who cannot enroll as a regular student.

Besides, setting up a community college and introduction of B. Voc degree under the auspices of UGC will go a long way in offering skills development programmes commensurate with National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).

Setting up study centers on epoch making thinkers- Rajarshi Shahu- Phule-Ambedkar, Gandhian philosophy/thoughts to instill humanity, national integrity and responsible citizenry among the youths.

Of late, educational institutions are recognized not only for good results but also for placement rates! In industry and business- the prospective employers- there is a constant hunt for the best brains/talent and the job market therefore demands ‘Best people for Best jobs’!

Simultaneously therefore, we need to focus on strengthening soft skills development centre, Pre-IAS/Entry in services centre, NET/SET coaching centre, Research and development cell, women development cell, career guidance and functional placement cell so as to enhance the employability.

Part B (Infra-structural development)

The availability and adequacy of the infra-structure has a deep and direct impact on the sustenance and enhancement of quality of education being imparted. To match the proposed academic expansion and accommodate the increased enrolment and also to meet future needs, the development and augmentation of the infra-structure will have to be undertaken in a planned manner. The following is a suggestive list.

[ 1]           Additional lecture halls, Electronic classrooms

[ 2]           Library expansion, reading rooms for UG, PG, Researchers, faculty

[ 3]           Setting up a virtual classroom equipped with broad band internet

connectivity for assured video streaming, video conferencing, video

recording and broadcasting

[ 4]           Renovation and modernization of laboratories

[ 5]           Setting up food processing testing laboratories

[ 6]           Boys Hostel, Girls Hostel expansion to accommodate more students

Spacious dining hall, recreational facilities for the inmates.

[ 7]           Guest house/club house with proper facilities

[ 8]           Transforming campus into smart campus that would include wi-fi

connectivity for all, networking, surveillance/safety systems, visible

ICT impact in academic and service delivery, investing on ICT and

support services.

[ 9]           Focus on Sports infra-structure development that would include

standard grass cover running tracks, playfields, indoor stadium,

swimming tank, health club.

[ 10]      Cultural Hall/Theatre/Community hall

[ 11]      Renewable/green energy, water harvesting, eco-friendly green campus

[ 12]      Focus on proper sanitation, clean drinking water, recreational

facilities, maintenance and up-keep of infra-structure, conducive and

exciting learning environment

[ 13]      Campus beautification for conducive ambience

Regular maintenance and up-keep of the infra-structure to ensure secured, smooth and efficient conduct of academic activities, health and hygiene needs a special attention and adequate budgetary provision.

Important: Investing on training and orienting human resource to fit to the smart environment, professional work culture and good governance. To realize strengths and weaknesses, a scientific SWOT analysis needs to be undertaken as a first step forward!

Introduction of academic programmes commensurate with the national education policy framework and development of matching infra-structure should go hand in hand. Selection/hiring of required trained staff/professionals to facilitate proper coaching/guidance in highly professional fields like IT, Sports, Art/Cultural fields would be equally important for the overall progression.

A strong, supportive and well placed student alumnus is an asset for any educational institution! Strengthening Alumnus activities and making it functional would help the institute in many ways such as fund mobilization, placement assistance.

Strengthening FEEDBACK/RESPONSE mechanism from all the stakeholders would make the system more vibrant, open, responsive and productive; and above all, would essentially ensure ‘student-people connect’!

Changes in the preferences warranted by the situations, availability of resources, priorities may be done with due consultation with the faculty, utilizing departments and appropriate concurrence of the Governing council.

“BEST IS YET TO COME”

 This is an open document and would solicit the views and versions from anyone, anywhere and anytime!

PRINCIPAL